Monday, April 03, 2006

Where Jim Dinning Stands

I'm afraid I may have been a little harsh on Jim Dinning in my earlier post. No sooner had I put the post up, then I got an e-mail from the Jim Dinning campaign team, revealing where Jim stands on key issues that matter to all Albertans. Among his gutsy positions:

1. SunshineJim is in favour of sunshine, except when it causes skin cancer. He also recognizes that albinos may have issues with it and is sensitive to their concerns.

2. PuppiesJim supports puppies and can often be seen in pictures with them. In fact, many of Jim's closest friends own puppies. Nevertheless, Jim recognizes the dangers of rabies and will take steps to end rabies in Alberta if elected Premier.

3. LollipopsJim has mixed opinions on lollipops. While he does support them in principle, he is aware of the dangers of tooth decay and feels that flossing should be encouraged in our schools.

The janitor from Edmonton and union politburo member, Eugene Plawiuk, is not all that off in his observation. When somebody does something stupid, he/she must be a liberal.

Having said that, Dinning is not a closet Liberal. He is the sort of candidate who employs common sense and therefore gets support from the left and right. Nothing wrong with that. Besides, not all liberal ideas are automatically bad, and sometimes common sense demands the application of liberal principles.

"JIM DINNING IS A CLOSET LIBERAL and once people here realize that he is toast."

Um, HOW is he a closet liberal, exactly? Calling Dinning a "liberal" because he lacks the red-meat far-right social conservatism that Morton or Manning has is a complete red herring. This is the same Jim Dinning who delivered ball-busting, ass-kicking, unrelentingly ruthless spending cuts in his time in Klein's cabinet. The knock on him, I guess, is that he hasn't said much to pander to the social conservative side of the party, although there's plenty of time for him to say that he won't tolerate gay marriage. Sheeesh.

Dinning isn't a liberal. You can still be conservative and not hold social conservative views. If anything he is a very Smart and buisness minded fiscal conservative. This is exactly what Alberta needs to foster Alberta's growth. Unlike Morton he has never publically stated his position on social issues like gay marriage but he rightfully understands that it is not an important issue for most Albertans and that is is primarily an issue that is settled and within federal jurisdiction.

Morton on the otherhand is an idiot. He doesn't understand the rule of law and would like nothing more than to undermind the supreme court. Not to mention that he would simply strain relations wiht the federal government which especially wouldn't be in Albertas interest if the Liberals are able to win back power in Ottawa.

Furthermore, peoples fears about a new NEP are silly as it would impact several provinces other than alberta that are producing oil and gas, namely the maritimes. It has been generally recognized that redistribution such as that is in no ones interest and the only people suggesting a threat are conservative politicians and hacks in Alberta.

I resigned from another party so I could join the PCs and vote Dinning. I think he has an excellent vision for the future of Alberta, and can effectively give politically homless people like me (fiscal conservative, social freedoms) a home.

Klein is still a liberal and so is Dinning. These guys saw / see no future in calling themselves liberals in Alberta, and rightly so. However they change their name they cannot their spots. Even liberals can balance books by making cuts (witness Cretien / Martin), but it's what they do after the books are balanced that shows their true colours. The federal Liberals burned through money by the bushell. Alberta is now the highest public spending per capita province in the dominion and what has it got us? We still have medicare fees! We need Morton before it's too late.